Mar 29, 2024  
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing Major, B.S.N.


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General Program Information


Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Accredited by: Commission Collegiate on Nursing Education (CCNE)

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree program prepares a generalist in nursing with leadership skills, basic research abilities, and a holistic health approach to professional nursing with a focus on the community. A broad foundation in science and liberal arts enables the professional nurse to enter into the collaborative health care process in a variety of settings.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the foundation for professional nursing practice. The professional nurse practices in collaboration with other health care providers and is responsible for coordinating and practicing comprehensive nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities, and assuming management and leadership positions in nursing practice.

A course of study that meets the degree requirements and the university’s General Education Program Requirements will be planned with the student through regular advising sessions each semester.

Students who complete the baccalaureate degree program, and are not already licensed registered nurses, will write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Graduates of the nursing program who have been convicted of a violation of the law other than a minor traffic violation (i.e., misdemeanor and/or felony) may be denied a license to practice as a registered nurse by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Questions about eligibility for licensure should be directed to the Tennessee Board of Nursing (1-888-778-4123).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Curriculum


The ratio of credit hours to clock hours per week is 1:1 for didactic courses and 1:2 for clinical courses, unless otherwise specified. 

TBR General Education Requirements: 41 Credit Hours


Additional Nursing Requirements: 4 Credit Hours


Total Hours Required for Degree: 120 Credit Hours


Additional Information


Click here to view the Nursing Major Suggested Course Sequence 

Advanced Placement for R.N. Students


To facilitate the education of registered nurses, the College of Nursing has developed an upper division sequence of courses leading to the B.S.N. degree. Eligible graduates of diploma and associate degree nursing programs who are seeking additional study in nursing may be given advanced standing by articulation, challenge examination, and/or validation processes.

Eligible R.N. students are admitted in the fall semester (deadline for application is June 1st; however, applications are accepted until classes are filled). Eligible applicants will be rank-ordered by college level grade point average; admission will be offered to the top ranked applicants and may be limited by space availability. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis. Eligible applicants who are not admitted may apply for the next available class. In addition to meeting GPA and science grade requirements, the applicant must be a graduate of an accredited program and hold active licensure as an RN in Tennessee or a compact state. Graduates of diploma and non-accredited programs must also have a minimum of 35 hours of specified courses to be eligible for the major. Coursework must include: English composition – 6 semester credits; Natural Science – 8 semester credits; Behavioral/Social Sciences – 6 semester credits; General education/electives – 15 semester credits. Credit may be earned by taking the courses from a regionally accredited institution or by taking departmental challenge examinations or equivalency examinations such as CLEP.

Students must satisfy a residency requirement of not less than two semesters during the junior and senior years, including the last full semester. This shall be a minimum of 30 hours. Not less than 12 semester hours may be counted as a semester of residence. Courses taken at ETSU off-campus centers are classified as residence credit. A minimum of 50 semester hours of credit must have been completed in a senior-level college or university. The R.N./ B.S.N. major requires 32 semester credits. These 32 credits will partially fulfill the university requirement of 50 semester credits having been completed in a senior-level college or institution and can usually be satisfied while completing the general education requirements. Therefore, an additional 18 semester credits must be completed at a senior-level college or university and can usually be satisfied while completing the general education requirements.

All nursing courses transferred into ETSU, in which a grade of C (2.0) or higher was earned, will be transferred in as elective courses and will count as elective credit in partial fulfillment of the B.S.N. degree requirements. Non-nursing credits are transferred and evaluated according to the policies of East Tennessee State University.

Upon successful completion of NRSE 3120 Professional Community-Based Nursing, NRSE 2030 - Health Assessment , and NRSE 3010 - Pharmacology for Nursing , the student will be awarded 39 semester credits in nursing; NRSE 3030 , NRSE 3031 , NRSE 4040 , NRSE 4041 , NRSE 4050 , NRSE 4051 , NRSE 3070 , NRSE 3071 , NRSE 3080 , NRSE 3081 , NRSE 3090 , and NRSE 3091 . Students graduating from a community college where ETSU has an Articulation Agreement will receive seven (7) semester hours credit upon successful completion of NRSE 2030  and NRSE 3120.

New “cohorts” of students form each fall at Johnson City, Sevierville, Kingsport, Knoxville, and Cleveland, Tennessee. Candidates should schedule an academic advising session with a College of Nursing advisor to plan their program of study.

R.N. to B.S.N. Online Program Plan


Total: 8-11 Credit Hours


Total: 9 Credit Hours


Total: 14 Credit Hours


Total Hours: 31-34 Credit Hours


Note:


* Students who enroll in and successfully complete CSCI 1100  will receive college credit. College credits are not awarded for the proficiency exam.

** Students may receive credit toward their practicum by portfolio submission. Portfolios are submitted and evaluated when students
are enrolled in NRSE 4060  .

t indicates technology intensive courses

y indicates writing and technology intensive courses

x indicates writing and oral intensive courses

Advanced Placement for LPNs


Eligible L.P.N.s who are admitted to the B.S.N. program follow the same admission/progression standards as the traditional baccalaureate student but are given the advantage of advanced standing. An L.P.N. student is required to take NRSE 3170 - Transition to Professional Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses  (3 credits) in lieu of NRSE 3030 - Foundations of Nursing Practice  (3 credits) and NRSE 3031 - Foundations Practicum  (3 credits), but otherwise follow the traditional B.S.N. program.

B.S.N. Accelerated Track for Second-Degree Students


This program is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field that was received from a regionally accredited institution. A minimum of a 2.6 on a 4.0 scale on all college work as computed by ETSU is required for admission. Developmental studies coursework is not included in the calculation for admission. Students should have completed or have in progress all the following courses or their equivalents:

Additonal Information


Students must have earned a minimum of a C (2.0) in each of the required health science-related courses. Each HSCI course may be repeated one time and only two HSCI courses may be repeated to achieve a C (2.0). The application deadline is February 1st of each year. The program is designed for full-time study. Classes begin in the summer term only and the curriculum can be completed in five semesters including the summer term of admission into the program. A student who fails to successfully complete one or more nursing courses, if allowed to progress, must then follow the traditional B.S.N. curriculum.

Click here to view the B.S.N. Accelerated Track for Second-Degree Students Suggested Course Sequence 

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